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Jan's Weekly Topic
What Sort of Dog Should I Get?
Posted on 05/06/2023

When I usually ask this question, the response is usually predominantly in favour of Goldies, Labs, GSDs etc; the more popular breeds. Is this because these breeds of dogs are actually the best? No, it isn’t but, because they are so popular, there are so many more owners out there to speak up on their behalf. This means we hear those ideal “character” traits associated with those breeds the most, it’s simply a numbers game. How many would associate those same characteristics with a Norwegian Lundehund? Only the few owners out there I’m sure, even though those character traits still...
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What Sort of Dog Should I get?
Posted on 02/06/2023

When I usually ask this question, the response is usually predominantly in favour of Goldies, Labs, GSDs etc; the more popular breeds. Is this because these breeds of dogs are actually the best? No, it isn’t but, because they are so popular, there are so many more owners out there to speak up on their behalf. This means we hear those ideal “character” traits associated with those breeds the most, it’s simply a numbers game. How many would associate those same characteristics with a Norwegian Lundehund? Only the few owners out there I’m sure, even though those character traits...
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Litter-mate Syndrome
Posted on 02/06/2023
Litter-mate Syndrome Following a recent question asked of me, I thought I would take this opportunity to dispel yet another commonly held belief, one which only serves to prevent good people from taking lovely dogs into their families. The query was from a gentleman who wanted to take on two puppies from the same litter and has been advised that this could lead to 'litter-mate syndrome', which is explained as the negative affect on one of the puppies, prevented from reaching its full potential and mental development by the other, more dominant, pup. The implication being that a dog can...
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Helping to Change Attitudes
Posted on 31/05/2023
I invite all responsible dog owners to become a member of what I call the “Canine Ambassadors Club” and help present dog owners in a more favourable light to those members of the population that don’t own, and may not even like, dogs. This will require nothing more than taking some of the more overt emotion out of dog ownership (keep that for home) and representing our canine friends in a positive, calm and honest way. There will always be people who choose to argue with dog owners, whether this is from a genuine dislike of dogs or just that...
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Job satisfaction
Posted on 06/04/2023

I have spent the last three days teaching my Advanced Course, via the internet, enabling me to share my "Amichien’ Bonding" with students in Spain, Belgium, the USA as well as here in the UK. Even though we were not in the same room, this did not detract from the bonds that were formed, which happen when people share such special knowledge and skills, all designed to help remove the burden of leadership suffered by the domestic. Over the years I have constantly improved the courses, enabling more people to really help dogs and their owners, just as...
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